Depeche Mode’s Peter Gordeno reveals his stadium-filling Roland rig

With just hours to go until showtime at Prague’s Eden Arena, Peter Gordeno of Depeche Mode slipped an Access All Areas pass around Roland’s neck and invited us to soundcheck. Armed with tunes that span from 1989’s Personal Jesus to this year’s Where’s The Revolution, the Essex trio are the dark lords of British synth-pop – so it’s no surprise that their live rig is a treasure-trove of Roland gear. “We’re a very electronic band,” explains Peter in this behind-the-scenes video interview, “and sometimes we even have three keyboard players playing.” Now, you’ll get right into the heart…

Nils Frahm on his favourite vintage music gear

Nils Frahm is a magician. Not only because he leaves people at his live gigs wondering “How on earth did he do that?!”, but no other piano player around today can fuse so seamlessly ‘straight’ piano composition and a complex weave of digital loops, tape echo and analogue warmth. Nils talks to us about BBC6…

Lang Lang and Roland: inspiring the next generation of pianists

Heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times, Lang Lang has played sold out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world and is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and all the top American orchestras. Testimony to his…

Roland talk exclusively with David Bowie producer, Tony Visconti

As David Bowie’s producer since before the Space Oddity album – and sonic architect for everyone from Marc Bolan to Morrissey – Tony Visconti has the world’s ultimate desk job. In this exclusive interview, he talked Bowie, Berlin, the brutal modern industry – and why he won’t be seeing U2 again in a hurry……

Damon Albarn on tour using the Roland HP-508 digital piano

Damon Albarn’s latest record is self-described as “folk soul”. Produced by XL records label boss Richard Russell, the first solo record from the Blur frontman was destined to be a special one, and hopefully not the last. Taking this record on tour meant a new piano, so as luck would have it he called…

The Brit Awards 2014 – guess who’s using Roland and Boss gear

Bastille use of Boss guitar effects pedals including the DA-2, TE-2 and MO-2, along with Roland TD-4KP V-Drums, SPD-SX and a Roland Juno G. Bastille came down to see us last year as their rise to fame was taking hold. Tight drum beats and festival ready chorus’s are a winning formula. Disclosure-Gaia, SPD-SX, V…

Gil Norton interview – Adventures In Production

Gil Norton has worked with some of the biggest names in rock and alternative music. Producing iconic records such as The Colour and The Shape for the Foo Fighters, Dolittle for Pixies and Ocean Rain for Echo and the Bunnymen, Norton’s back catalogue is packed with career topping albums for genre-defining artists. His latest…

Tom Odell interview – digital pianos, writing his album and touring

Just before he started his US tour, we met up with singer-songwriter de jour, Tom Odell to talk about songwriting, beloved covers and Glastonbury. We’re huge fans of his music and we know he’s a fan of Roland because he’s got a Roland FP-80 digital piano and a Roland LX-15 in his onstage arsenal. It’s…

Tom Odell on playing his beloved Roland digital pianos

Winner of last year’s Critics Choice Award at the Brits (previous winners Adele, Florence + the Machine), Tom Odell had huge success in the charts with his debut studio album, Long Way Down. A British singer/songwriter who has been compared to early Elton John, Tom writes and performs soulful songs that combine his melancholic voice…

Vaccines – Interview with Freddie Cowan

Fresh off the back of supporting The Rolling Stones and smashing Glastonbury with the help of friends Mumford & Sons, The Vaccines axe man Freddie Cowan talks about what’s up in their world right now. If you haven’t seen it, also watch Freddie’s ‘Bad Mood’ guitar lesson. Check out our interview with Freddie Cowan if…

Roland & Boss at Bestival 2013

One last party of the summer. Or at least that’s what it feels like as the Isle of Wight gets ready for festival seasons final farewell of 2013. Bestival has always been called one of the best of the bunch, largely down to the eclectic music taste of its brain child, Radio 1 DJ Rob…